Interfolding machine



' 3: J. J. DELOYE INTERFOLDING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 2, 1953 i1 Sheets-Sheet 1 ay 10, W38. J. J. DELOYE 2,116,732

' INTERFOLDING MACHINE 7 Original Filed Feb. 2, 1933 ll Sheets-Sheet 2 fiw wamwwp .3 "5. DELOYE May 1, 1933,

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J. J. DELOYE INTERFOLDING MACHINE ori inall iled Feb. 2, 193:5 11 sheets-sheet 4 May 10, 1938. J. J. DELCYE INTERFOLDING MACHINE ll Sheets-Sheet 5 OriginalFiled Feb. 2, 1933 May 10, 1938. J. J. DELOYE INTERFOLDING MACHINE ll Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed Feb. 2, 1933 JmesJfleZage J. J. DELOYE 2,116,782

INIERFOLDING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 2, 1933, ll Sheets-Sheet 7 llllll"! ig i jfielo 9 May 10, 1938.

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J. J. DELOYE INTERFOLDING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 2, 1933 ll Sheets-Sheet 8 III I] II J. J. DELOYE INTERFOLDING MACHINE May 10,. 1938.

Original Filed Feb. 2, 1933 ll Sheets-Shet 9 I [LI/Q7225? James Z0 e Jpe MMN

May 10, .1938. J J, DELQYE 2,116,782

' INTERF'OLDING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 2, 1953 11 Sheets-Sheet 10 May 10, 1938. DELOYE 2,116,782

INTERFOLDING MACHINE Qriginal Filed Feb. 2, 1933 ll Sheets-Sheet 11 Jame jj hye Patented May 10, 1 938 m'rnarommc MACHINE James J. Deloye, Neenah, Wis., assignor to International Cellucotton Products Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application February 2, 1933, Serial No. 654,857 Renewed November 1, 1935 14 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved interfolding machine and has particular reference to a machine for interfolding paper sheets, particularly soft and thin crepe paper such as cleansing.

tissue.

The machine herein disclosed is of the type shown in the patent to J A. Nichol No. 1,516,779, November 25, 1924, and improvements have been embodied in the said type of machine to better adapt the Nichol type of machine to the interfolding of tissue paper.

As above indicated, the main object of this invention is to provide a machine which is especially adapted, although not restricted, to the interfolding of thin, soft and flimsy tissue paper such as cleansing tissue which because of its lightness and flimsiness is quite difficult to handle.

This main object is accomplished by various features of improvement described and illustrated 20 in the following specification and accompanying drawings (11 sheets) and various other objects of the invention will become apparent from the specification and drawings.

In the drawings:-

Fig. 1 is a side. elevation.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation.

Fig. 3 is a section onthe line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the mechanism .shown in Fig. 3 but on an enlarged scale. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, certain portions being broken away to more clearly illustrate the details of construction.

Fig. 6 is a plan section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of certain mechanism for marking the interfolded stack of sheets to indicate bunches of a predetermined number of sheets. i

Figs. 3, 9, and 10 are sections on the lines M, 40 s-9, and. it-it respectively of Fig. 7.

Fig. 11 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of certain mechanism shown in Fig. 3 for controlling the removal of the interfolded sheets.

Fig. 12 is a section on the line 12-12 of Fig. 11.

13 is a section on the line l3|3 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 isa section on the line "-14 of Fig. 13. Fig. 15 is a detail illustration of an eccentric adjusting device also shown in Fig. 3.

" Fig. 16 is an enlarged detail illustration of a gripping jaw also shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Fig. 17 is a section on the line l'l-l'lof Fig. 16. Fig. 18 is a section on the line l8'--l3 of Fig. 5. Fig. 19 is a plan section on the line lQ-JS' of Fig. 18, and Fig. 20 is a detail illustrating the manner in which the interfolded material is inserted into the bite or the gripping jaws.

In the disclosed interfolding machine structure, two wide webs of the desired quality of paper; for example, soft, flimsy crepe paper are supplied to the machine from any suitable source. Also, 5

it will be understood that the webs may be single or multi-ply, depending upon the kind of products to be interfolded.

One web designated A in Fig. 3 of the drawings is fed over a top guide roller from which the web is directedover an anvil roll 26 with which a slitter 21 cooperates to divide the wide web longitudinally into two narrow webs. If desired, slitters similar to 21 may be provided for trimming the edges of the web, but such slitters may be omitted where the width of the webs supplied is not materially more than equal to two of the desired widths. 0n the opposite side of the machine, a similar web of paper designated I3 is fed over another anvil roll 26 with which another 20 slitter 21 cooperates to divide the web into two narrower widths.

From the respective anvil rolls 26-26, the webs A and B travel downwardly between pairs of cooperating feed rolls 28 and 29 respectively and 25 around the respective rolls 29 and over rolls The respective webs A and B travel over the respective rolls Bil-30 and downwardly between 30 them, suitable guides 3l -3l being provided for controlling the path of travel of the webs after they leave the said rolls 30-30. It will be observed that the webs A and B are brought together between the rolls 30-30 and are so malntained by the guides 3l--3l.

Each of the rolls 30 is provided with a pair of grooves 3232, these grooves being diametrically oppositely disposed. The grooves of one roll 30 'are so arranged that they will come opposite 40 the portions of the other roll 30 substantially mid-way between the grooves of such other roll. The surfaces of the rolls 3030 are longitudinally unbroken and substantiallysmooth. Rotatable cutters'3333, each provided with a pair of diametrically oppositely disposed knives 34-34 are arranged to cooperate with the respective rolls 30,

the arrangement being such that the knives 34 register with the grooves 32 of the'respective rolls.

Since, cutter rolls act with the rolls 30-40, the

latter, for convenience may hereinafter be referred to as cutter rolls. It will ,beunderstood thatby the'described arrangement, the webs A and B will be alternately cut crosswise so that one of the transversely extending cuts in the web A will be disposed substantially mid-way between transversely extending cuts in the web B.

A pair of cooperating feed rolls 35 and 36 are provided for pulling the adjacent sheets through the guides 3|-3|. Gripping jaws 3'! and a tucking device 38 cooperate to fold the sheets and irisggt' them into stacking mechanism indicated a The above general explanation of the improved machine and its operation will serve to facilitate understanding of the following explanation of various details of construction.

There are two side frames 40 and 4| which are suitably united; for example, by means of a plurality of tie rods such as indicated at 42. Each side frame includes a plurality of relatively independent castings which are suitably united to form rigid side frames. At the upper end of each side frame, ways indicated at 43 and 44 are formed for slidably receiving bearing members such as 45 which rotatably support the cutter rolls 33 and bearing members such as 46 which rotatably support the cutter rolls 30.

As shown in Figs. 3, 5, and 18, the bearing blocks 46 rest on an upwardly projecting boss in the bottom of each way, and the cutter roll supporting bearings 45 are adjustably supported which has a head 5! forming a seat" on which the upper bearing member 45 rests. A nut 52 1 threadedly fits the post 50 and is rotatably seated on the upper end of the base 41. The lower edge portion of the nut 52 is provided with gear teeth as indicated at 53 which are adapted to be engaged by the teeth of an adjusting tool 54.

For positioning the adjusting tool 54 with re -spect to the gear teeth 53 of the nut, the base member 41 is provided with apertures such as 55 for receiving a stem portion 56 of the tool. It will be understood that by turning the tool 54, the nut 52 will be rotated so. as to cause the headed post 50 to be adjusted upwardly or downwardly as desired. Rotation of the post 5| may be prevented by locking the head 5| of the post to the upper bearing member 45, for example, by providing the head of the post 5| with a slot and the bearing 45 with an off-center pin (not shown) to enter such slot. A'holding screw 5! threadedly engages an opening in the top end portion of the.

frame and the lower end of the screw engages a thrust member 58 which rests on the upper bearing 45. The screw 51 is turned down so as to tightly hold the upper bearing 45 in fixed, spaced relation (determined by the screw jack device) to the lower bearing 46. By this arrangement, the cutter rolls 33 and 30 are maintained in accurately adjusted predetermined relation.

By removing the topmost casting elements which are normally held in place by bolts 59, the cutter rolls 33 and 30 may be easily removed from the machine.

The slitters 21 comprise disks having sharp edges, these disks being rotatably mounted in the forked ends of arms 60 which are secured to rods 6|, the latter being rotatably supported at their ends in suitable bearings formed in or carried by the topmost castings of the side frames. The slitter arms 60 are provided with upwardly and outwardly extending arm members 63 for maintaining the slitter disks 2! in operative relation to their respective rolls 26.

, The source of power For eifecting rotation of the cutter rolls 33, the rolls 30, and other parts of the machine, the

following arrangement is preferred although it may obviously be radically modified. An electric motor I9 is disposed within the base area of the machine and it is coupled to a speed reducing unit which delivers its power through a shaft 80. The shaft is provided with a sprocket 8| from which power is transmitted to a double sprocket member 82 on a short, fixed shaft 83 suitably mounted on the frame 40. The double sprocket 82 includes a large sprocket wheel 84 and a small sprocket wheel 85, a chain 86 passing around the sprockets 8| and 84. On the shaft 81 of one of the anvil rolls 30, there is mounted a sprocket wheel 88 which has connected to it a clutch mechanism 89, another portion 90 of which clutch is suitably connected to the shaft 81 so that rotation of the sprocket 88 may be imparted to the shaft 89 through the clutch 89-90. A chain 9| transmits power from the sprocket 85 to the sprocket 88. The clutch 89--90 may be of any conventional type, and in this instance it is shown as-being controlled, i. e. engaged or disengaged, by means of a-rock lever 92 pivoted intermediate its ends. as indicated at 93 on a bracket 94 which is secured to the frame 40. One end of the rock lever 92 is suitably connected as indicated at 95 to clutch operating means, and the other end of the rock lever has connected to it an operating rod 96 which extends transversely of the machine and is provided with a handle 91 on the front side of the machine for facilitating manual adjustment of the clutch.

The shafts of each of the cutting rolls 3333 and cutter rolls 30.3b at each end thereof and outwardly of the respective side frames, are pro vided with intermeshing gears for effecting rotation at properly correlated speeds. The two cutter rolls 30-30 are driven by means of gears 98 and 99 which intermesh as clearly indicated in Fig. 1. Similar gears are also provided on the opposite side of the'machine. The cutter rolls 33 which respectively cooperate with the cutter rolls 30 are each provided with gears |00|00 which respectively mesh with the gears 98 and 99 but not with each other. This arrangement is clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The shaft of the slitter anvil roll 26 at the right hand end of the machine is provided with a gear I 0| which meshes with the gear I00 of the adjacent cutter roll 33, and on the opposite side of the machine,'the shaft of said slitter anvil roll is provided with a sprocket I02. The shaft of the other slitter anvil roll on the same side of the machine is provided with a sprocket similar to the sprocket I02 and a chain I03 passing around said sprockets serves to effect rotation in the same direction as both of the slitter anvil rolls 26.

The pairs of feed rolls 28 and 29-at each end of the machine are driven by gear connections to the respectively adjacent cutter rolls 30-30. As shown in Fig. 1, the shafts of the rolls 29 are provided with gears 04 which respectively mesh with the gears 98 and 99 of the cutter rolls 3030, and

the shafts of the outer rolls 28 are provided with '5 gears I which mesh with the gears I04 of the rolls 29.

The feed roll pairs 28-29 The pairs of feed rolls 20 and 29 are rotatably mounted in end brackets such as indicated at I06, the details of these brackets being best shown in Fig. 15. It will be seen that each bracket I06 includes a body portion I01 in which the inner roll 29 is journaled and a laterally extending bracket portion I08 through which a bolt passes for fastening the bracket to the side frame. The side frame is suitably recessed to receive the body portion I01 of the bracket.

, The outer roll 28 is so mounted that it may be adjusted towards or from the roll 29.' This is accomplished by rotatably mounting a sleeveor bearing bushing I09 in the bracket I06, the bracket being slit as indicated at IIO so that by tighteninga bolt and nut III, the bushing I09 may be locked in adjusted position. The shaft ends of the outer feed rolls 28 are journaled in bearing apertures H2 in the members I09 and the apertures II2 are slightly eccentric of the ably knurled so as to provide a more eifective grip on the tissue web which is fed by the said rolls.

The guides 31-31 The guides 3I-3I are such that they loosely confine the adjacent webs within a desired path of travel, and there is a plurality of guides 3| disposed at longitudinally spaced intervals as will be understood by reference to Figs. 2, 4, and 5. The guides 3! on opposite sides of the paper web are of like construction, and hence the following explanation applies to each guide element.

All of the guides 31 are mounted on shafts such as II5 which are fixedly mounted in the side frames. 1, Each guide 3I consists of an upper portion 116 and a lower portion In. The lower portion is an elongated finger-like member having a head portion II8 bored out to fit the shaft wardly extending finger or stripper I2I which is arcuately beveled as indicated at I 22 at its free end to fit the surface of the cutter roll with which it cooperates so as to thereby effectively strip the paper web-from the roll in the event that the paper should tend tooling to the roll. At its lower end, the stripper finger I2I is provided with a head portion I23 which straddles the head IIB of the lower guide member and it fits on the rod H5 so that the finger maybe swung, around the said rod. For normally maintaining the free end I22 of the stripper guide member in engagement with the surface of the roll 30, the weighted arm I24 extends outwardly from the head I23 and V the stripper ends will bridge the grooves in the rolls 30-30 without entering the same. However, as a precautionary measure, the rearward edge of each groove may be slightly chamfered as indicatedin the drawings, to avoid any possibility of the joints of the strippers engaging the rearward walls of the grooves.

, The feed rolls 3536 The feed rolls 35 and 36 are rotatably mounted in suitable supporting brackets such as shown at I25, and the roller 35 is preferably mounted in said bracket through the agency of a bushing which is eccentrically bored out to receive the roll shaft. adjustable towards or from the-roller 36 in substantially the same manner as the rollers 28 are adjustable relative to the rollers 29 as above explained.

As best shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 5, the rollers 35 and 36 are provided with grooves I26 for receiving the guide members II1-I I1. The rollers are adjusted'relative to each other so that they will grip the webbing sheets between them and propel them downwardly as an incident to the rotation of the rolls. The surfaces of the rolls are knurled as indicated in Figs. 2 and 5 to improve the feeding action of the rolls on the paper sheets. The rolls are rotated through the agency of idler gears I21, one being on each side of the machine and meshing with the respective gears 98. The shaft ends of the feed roller 36 are provided with gears such as I28 which mesh with By this provision, the roller 35 is the respective idler gears I21, and the shaft ends of the feed roller are provided with gears such as I29 which mesh withthe gears I28. Thus, the feed rollers 35 and 36 are driven in opposite directions, and it will be understood that the peripheral speed of rotation is the same for each roll, this being controlled by the use of the gears I26 and I29 'of proper pitch diameter.

The gripping jaws and tucker (37 and 38l the side frames 40 and 4| as clearly indicated in Fig. 2. The ends of the shafts I30 project beyond the respective side frames and are provided with gears I32. The gears I32 of the shaft I30 at the right hand end of the machine as viewed in Fig. l mesh with the idler gears- I21 through which rotation is trapsmitted to both ends of the shaft I30 from the gears 90 on the ends of the adjacent cutter roll 30. The gears I32 on the ends of the shaft I30 at the left hand end of the machine as viewed in Fig. 1 .mesh with idler gears I33, and such idler gears mesh with the gears 99 on the respective ends of the shaft of the other cutter roll 30. Hence, rotation is imparted to the shaft I30 at the left hand end of the machine.

I The shafts I3I are suitably journaled in the side frames 40 and 4| and one end of each of the shafts projects beyond the frame 10 and is provided with a gear such as I34. Idler gears such as I35 mesh with the gears I32 and I34 and serve to transmit rotation to the respective shafts I3 I.

Each of the jaws 31 includes upper and lower jaw members I36 and I31 respectively, these jaw.

members being of substantially the same length parts as clearly shown in Fig. 5. For a purpose which will presently appear, the jaws are notched out at spaced intervals as indicated at I38. The two jaw members are suitably pivotally connected on a shaft I39 on which they are positioned by means of end collars I40 which are fixedly secured to the shaft by means of set screws or otherwise as indicated in Fig. 16.

By reference to Figs. 6 and 16, it will be seen that the upper jaw is provided with bearing bosses MI and that the lower jaw is provided with similar longitudinally spaced bearing bosses I42, all of these bosses being suitably bored out to receive the pivot shaft I39. At one or both ends of the jaws, a hollow I43 is formed between semi-circular portions formed integral with the respective jaws and a coil spring I44 is disposed in said hollow space around the portion of the pivot shaft I39 extending through such space. One end of the spring is anchored as indicated at I45 in the fixed collar I40 and the other end I46 of the spring engages a bridge portion I41 of the upper jaw and serves to normally urge said jaw into closed position'relative to the lower aw. The lower jaw is held in fixed position on the shaft I39 by suitable means such as set screws as indicated at I48 which extend through the lower jaw bearing bosses I42 and engage the pivot shaft.

The jaw structures 31 maybe termed fioatmg jaws since they open and close with respect to each other and also travel through predetermined paths which in this instance are elliptical as indicated by dotted lines I49 in Fig. 4.

For imparting the elliptical travel movement to the respective jaw sets 3I and for opening the jaws against the force of the closing springs I44, v

the following arrangement is provided.

The bearing portions I42 oi the lower jaw are provided with angularly upwardly extending bosses I50 to which adjustable tie rods such as I5I are secured.- At their upper ends, the tie rods I5I are secured to bearing members such as I52 which fit rotatably on cranks I53 of the shafts I (see Figs. 2 and 4). 9

Between the bearing portions MI and I42 of the upper and lower jaws, spaces are provided for receiving the bearing end portions I54 of connecting rods I55, the other ends of which are provided with hearing heads I56 which rotatably fit on cranks I51 formed on the shaft I3I.

It will now be understood that by proper timing or synchronizing of the cranks I53 and I41, the respective jaw sets 31 may be propelled through the elliptical paths of travel I49.

For efiecting'opening of the jaws 31, the upper jaw is provided with bosses such as I58 which extend upwardly from the bearing portions I4I.

roller I60 engages the high peripheral portion I62 of the cam I6I, the jaws 31 will be held open and thatas soon as the rollers I60 leave the high cam surface and engage the low surface portion I63, the jaws will be closed by the action of the springs I 64. Obviously, .the anti-friction roller I60 will roll around the cam I6I as an incident to the revolution of the cam about the axis of the shaft I30. Bzy properly setting the cam on the crank shaft, the jaws will be caused to open and close in properly synchronized relation to other operations with which the jaws cooperate.

As best shown in Figs. 4 and 21, the tuckers 38 serve to tuck portions of the paper sheets into the bite of the jaws 31 when open. The tuckers I38 comprise arms I64 which are secured to shafts I65, the latter being suitably journaled in the side frames of the machine (see Fig. 6). The free ends of the tucker arms I64 are connected by means of an angle iron member I66 which supports a tucker blade I61. As indicated in the drawings (see Fig. 4), the blade I61 is a thin, fiat strip which is adapted to enter between the open jaws 31 without occupying a material amount of space.

The tucker arms I64 are 'caused to swing through a limited are about the axis of the shaft on which they are mounted, this being accomplished by means of a suitable cam I68 which acts on the free end I69 of an arm I10, the other end of which is secured to the shaft I65 as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 6.

By reference to Fig.3, it will be apparent that the path of travel of the forward edge of the respective tucker blades I61 will be slightly arcuate and that in its downward movement, the forward edge of the blade will move towards the paper we The cams I68 which control the tucker arms are so proportioned that from the highest point of travel reached by the tucker blade I61, as shown in Fig. 4, the blade will move downwardly to a point substantially as indicated at III where it intersects the downward path of travel of the opposite jaw set. This path of travel is substantially as indicated by the dotted lines I12.

Further referring to Fig. 4, the operation of the tuckers and jaws may be described as follows: The jaw set 31 at the right hand side of Fig. 4 is shown slightly below the highest point of its elliptical path of travel. In the illustrated position,the jaw set mentioned may be said to have just started its downward path of travel in the direction indicated by the arrow I13. The oppositely disposed tucker member 38 has traveled through the initial portion of its path of travel and has just started to tuck the paper webs between the open jaws'of the right hand jaw set. The cooperating tucker and jaw set move downwardly in unison through their respective paths of travel until the path of travel of the jaw set leaves the path of travel of the tucker, whereupon the spring I44 is permitted to close the jaws to thereby effectively grip and continue to pull the folded sheets downwardly. It will be understood that there is a slight relative movementbetween the cooperating tucker blade and jaw set during the described tucking operation, since during the initial portion of the downward movement of the jaws, the tucker is forcing the paper sheets into the jaws whileduring a subsequent portion of the downward movement, the jaws are moving away from the tucker blade until the jaw actually leaves the blade. It is found that in the described operation, the tucker blade I 61 will recede from the jaws without withdrawing with it the paper webs.

The mechanism thus far described is so synchronized that the tucking members will engage the adjacent web of paper substantially along the line at which it has previously been slitted. Thus the sheets of paper are folded intermediate their lengths and the ends of the oppositely disposed sheets are located in the fold.

The stacking arrangement As indicated in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, the interfolded sheets are stacked between oppositely. disposed series of oscillating fingers I14I'I4. Each series of fingers comprises a plurality of like fingers which are secured in spaced relation to a shaft I15 which is journaled in suitable bearing brackets I16 mounted on the side frames. As clearly shown in Fig. 4, the fingers include tail portions III which have flat, smooth inside surfaces and head or hook portions I18 which are provided with outwardly facing barbs I19.

Both series of fingers 14 are oscillated in unison, each series being actuated by an eccentric I80 mounted on the rotating shaft I3l. The eccentrics I80 act through connecting rods such as I8I and arms I82, the latter of which are suitably fixed to the respective shafts I15. The eccentrics I 80 are so set with relation to each other that the respective series of fingers I14 will be simultaneously oscillated in the same direction.

When the respective jaw sets 31 approach their 1 lowermost position, they carry the folded paper web underneath the hooked ends I18 of the finger series and the arrangement is such that the paper is released from the jaws by opening of the latter approximately at the time the forward folded edge of the paper engages the inside faces I11 of the stacking fingers. that the stacking fingers fi l-I14 are continuously in movement owing to the eccentric actuating mechanism arrangement described, but that when the jaws carry the sheets into the bite of the stacking fingers, the jaws are in forwardly incllned position. When the edge of the sheet engages the inside face of the stacking fingers, the

jaws begin their rearward oscillation. The entire stack of sheets between the stacking fingers is thus shifted back and forth and this shifting is Sheet counting mechanism To facilitate packing of a certain number of sheets in a box; for example, a cardboard box in which the sheets are sold at retail, the following mechanism is provided for counting the sheets and indicating points of division of the stack into bundles of a predetermined number of sheets.

In this instance, the counting mechanism about to be described is associated with the stacking fingers on the left hand side of the machine as viewed in Figs. 4, 6, and '7.

A bracket I83 is fixedly supported on a tie bar I84 which extends between the side frames of the machine and on the inner or free end of the bracket I83, there is rotatably mounted a disk I85 having associated with it a ratchet wheel I86. The ratchet wheel I86 is formed integral with or secured to the disk I85 so as to be maintained in fixed relation thereto. The ratchet I86 is provided with teeth corresponding in munber tothe number of sheets it is desired to package in a single box, or in the case of packages of small number of sheets, the ratchet may have multiples of the number or sheets. The disk I85 is provided a with a notch I81 in its periphery.

It will also be evident I65 and has its other end connected by means of a link I90 to the free end of the arm I88 (see Figs. 3 and 6). The arm I88 is provided with a boss I9I on one side which is suitably bored as indicated at I92 to receive a plunger I93 having a tooth I94 adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet I86. A spring I95 is provided for urging the plunger I93 into engagement with the ratchet.

" It will be seen that each time the left hand.

tucker I64 moves upwardly, the arm I88 will be rocked in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 3 and 7 and that the ratchet I86 will incidentally be advanced. The extent of movement imparted to the ratchet I86 may be adjusted to the desired amountby means of an adjustable connection indicated at I96 between the rock arm I89 and the link I90. A spring-pressed pawl I91 carried by a bracket arm I98 is provided for preventing back lash of the ratchet I88 as an incident to the rearward swinging movement of the arm I88.

An arm I99 is pivotally mounted as indicated at 200 on a portionof the bracket I88. This arm I99 is yieldingly pulled upwardly by means of a tension spring 20I connected between the arm as indicated at 202 and the end of the bracket I88 as indicated at 203. The arm I99 is provided with an upstanding lug 208 which carries a toothed element 205 which is adapted to ride on the periphery of the disk I 85 and to drop into the notch I81 thereof, once for each turn of the disk. If it is desired to provide packages of a small number of sheets, the disk I85 may be provided with additional notches I81. In that case, the ratchet I86 will, of course, be modified to provide teeth in the desired multiples of teeth.

It will be understood that during the normal operation of the machine, the toothed element 205 will be in engagement with the periphery of the disk I85 so that it will hold the arm I99 in its lowermost position as illustrated in Fig. 3. In this position, a catch 206 carried by the arm I99 is below the path of oscillation of the lower end of an arm 201 which is fixedly secured to the oscillating shaft I15.

When the toothed element 205 drops into the notch I81, the catch 206 will be in position to engage the lower end of the arm 201, thereby to prevent rocking of the stacking fingers I14 in counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 7. The fingers I14 being thus held stationary while the jaw set 31 continues its normal operation, it will be evident that the edge of the folded paper brought under the hooks I18 will engage the inside faces of the fingers I14 andbe upset substantially as indicated at 208 in Fig. 7. Such upsets form clearly visible marks in the stack of sheets and readily indicate where the stack should be separated to form bundles of the desired number of sheets.

To permit the left hand series of stacking fingers I14 to be locked in the described position,

for marking the sheets, the connecting rod I8I which normally transmits oscillating movement to the fingers from the eccentric I80 is of special construction, which is best shown in Fig. 10. The arrangement as shown in Fig. 10 includes an eccentric collar 209 which is provided with'a boss 2I0 bored out and threaded to receive a sleeve 2| I. A look nut 2I2 serves to normally hold the sleeve 2 in adjusted position relative to the eccentric collar 209. The sleeve 2 is bored out so. as -to provide an internal shoulder 2I3 on which the head 2 of a stem element 2I5 may while the arm 12 remains stationary. The relative movement between the eccentric member 239 and the arm I82 is then taken up by compression of the spring 2.

For facilitating adjustment of the depth or extent of upset produced by the described arrangement, the catch element 206 is adjustably mounted on the arm I99. As shown in Fig. 9, the catch element 206 is provided with a dovetailed sliding connection with the arm I93 and it is adapted to be adjusted longitudinally of the arm by means of a rod 2l9 which has threaded engagement with the base portion of the catch member. The outer end of the rod H9 is rotatably supported in a lug 228 formed integral with the bearing end 286 of the arm I99 and adjustment of the rod 2I9 may conveniently be effected by means of a hand wheel 22l suitably supported for rotation and connected to the outer end of the rod by means of a universal joint 222.

The stacking, receiving, and handling mechanism controlled by a traveling bottom in the guide which comprises a plurality of chains 224' which are advanced step by step. The chains 224 are supported by sprockets 225 on a shaft 226 in the delivery end of the conveyor and by sprockets 221 on a shaft 228 near the receiving end of the conveyor. The shaft 226 is rotatably mounted in suitable brackets 228 carried by the frames 40 and 4| and the shaft 228 is rotatably mounted in suitablebearing brackets 230 also mounted on the frame sides 40 and 4|.

For advancing the conveyor chains 224', it is preferred that means be provided whereby the speed of the feed movement may be accurately controlled. In this instance, the means provided includes an eccentric 23! mounted on the shaft I3I, a collar 232 embracing and actuated by the eccentric, a connecting rod 233, a rock lever 234,

ball clutch mechanism 235, and intermeshing gears 235 and 231. The gear 231 is mounted on and keyed to the shaft 228 and the gear 236 is connected to one of the elements of the clutch 235.

The structure of the clutch 235 is best illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14. As there illustrated, the structure includes inner and outer clutch members 238 and 233 respectively, the outer member providing an internal clutch face 240. The inner member 238 is formed somewhat in the manner of a ratchet wheel so as to provide a series of substantially flat cam faces-24l. Rollers 242 are positioned between the respective cam faces 2 and the oppositely disposed portions of the internal clutch face 240, and by rotation of the outer clutch member 239 in one direction (counterclockwise, as shown in Fig, 14 the rollers 242 will be jammed between the cam faces 2 and clutch face 240, and thereby transmit rotation to the internal clutch member 238. The rollers 242 are loosely confined in operative relation to the respective cam faces by means of pairs of cross pins 243 which are carried by retaining plates 244 and 245. The retaining plate 245 is seated on a shoulder 246 formedon the inner clutch member 238 so as to thereby maintain the pins 243 in the desired position from the axis of the clutch mechanism. Plungers such as indicated at 241, urged outwardly by light springs such as 248, are provided in the inner clutch member 238 and serve to normally maintain the rollers 242 in contact with the oppositely disposed faces between which they are jammed for transmitting movement from the outer to the inner member.

As shown in Fig. 14, the plungers act against one of the cross pins 243' to thereby effect relative movement between the pin carrying plates 244 and 245 and the pins carried thereby, whereby the rollers are normally, maintained in the said position. The springs 248 are sufficiently light so that they will not maintain the rolls 242 in such tight' engagement between the inner and outer clutch faces that reverse movement of the outer clutch member can be transmitted to the inner member. Of course, the resistance of the stack of sheets and the. frictional resistance of the conveyor mechanism tends to resist rearward movement.

The 'outer clutch member 239 has connected to it the arm member 234 so that oscillation of the arm as produced by the eccentric 23! will be imparted to the outer clutch member and thereby, in one direction'only to the inner clutch member. The gear 236 is suitably secured to the inner clutch member and hence the step by step feed movement of the inner clutch member will be transmitted to the gear 237 and the conveyor chains 224'.

For facilitating adjustment of the extent of feed movement imparted by the described mechanism, the connecting rod 233 is adjustably connected to the clutch arm 234 through the agency of a bearing block 249 which is slidably mounted between the forked portions of the arm 234 as clearly shown in Fig. 11. adapted to be adjusted lengthwise of the arm by means of a screw 250 which threadedly engages an aperture 25! in the end of the arm 234. The inner end of the screw 25!] is anchored to the block 249 in any suitable manner to permit rotation of the screw 250 relative to the block but to cause the block to follow the screw inwardly oroutwardly. A lock nut 252 may be provided on the screw 250 for locking the same in the desired position of adjustment.

A hand wheel 253 is secured to one end of the shaft 228 for facilitating manual feed of the conveyor chains 224 when it is desired to empty the conveyor 223 or for any other purpose. It will be understood that the conveyor may readily be manually advanced since the clutch mechanism 235 permits the gears 231 and 236 to be advanced independently of the outer clutch member and arm 234.

General remarks- The principle of the Nichol patent before alluded to is, of course, retained in the above described mechanism, but the various elements of the mechanism have been modified so as to particularly adapt the mechanismvto the successful The block 249 is interfolding of light-weight, flimsy tissue paper which could not be successfully folded on the Nichol patent machine. In the described structure, the mechanism is arranged to divide a wide sheet of material into two narrower sheets and to simultaneously interfold the narrow webs to thereby form two stacks of interfolded sheets. Hence, the machine described may be said tube a double machine. Obviously, the mechanism may be restricted to a single machine or it may be extended to form machines for simultaneously interfolding'more than two webs.

The various elements of mechanism are synchronized in their operative relation by the various gear connections described and it will be understood that in order to obtain accurate timing and freedom from play, accurate driving connections are desirable. It is preferred that the intermeshing gears 98-99 and l00.-Hlll be formed of two sections as indicated in the drawings and the two sections adjustably connected so that play incident to wear may betaken up by appropriate adjustment of the gears. For facilitating manual adjustment of the mechanism as a whole to any predetermined or desired position for any purpose whatever, a hand wheel 254 is connected to-one end of the main driving shaft 8'.

Changes in the described structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of whichshould be determined by reference to the following claims, the same being construed as broadly as possible consistent with the state of the art. e

I claim as my invention:-'- 1. In a machine of the class described, th combination of means for transversely severing a web of paper at longitudinally spaced intervals, said means including a cutter roll, meansfor feeding the web to said roll; means'for withdrawing the web from said roll, said feeding and withdrawing means being operated to feed the web and withdraw the web at substantially the same speed so as to maintain the web under pre' determined tension on the cutter roll, said feed- .ing means including a pair of rolls, eccentric means for mounting one of said rolls for adjustment towards or from the other, and means interconnecting said rolls for rotation at the same peripheral speed.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for transversely severing a paper web at longitudinally spaced intervals, means for feeding the web to said severing means, said feeding means comprising a unitary structure including end members adapted to be fixedly mounted on the machine, and a pair of cooperating rolls rotatably mounted in said end members.

3. In a machine of ,the class described, the combination of means for transversely severing a paper web at longitudinally spaced intervals, means for feeding the web to said severing means, said feeding means comprising a unitary structure including end members adapted to be fixedly mounted on the machine, a pair of cooperating rolls rotatably mounted in said end members, and means for mounting one of said rolls in said end members for adjustment towards and from the other roll. I

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for transversely severing a paper web at longitudinally spaced intervals, means for feeding the web to said severing means, said feeding means comprising a unitary structure including end members adapted to be fixa web of paper at longitudinally spaced intervals, said means including a roll having a longitudinally unbroken, smooth surface, means for folding the severed sheets, and means for stripping the sheets from the roll and guiding the same to said folding'means, said stripping means comprising a member'provided with a beveled edge adapted to engage the roll surface,.means for pivotally mounting said stripper member, and means for yieldingly urging said stripper -member into engagement with the roll surface.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for transversely severing a web of paper at longitudinally spaced intervals, said severing means including a roll, means for folding the severed sheets, and means for stripping and guiding the sheets from said roll including a plurality of spaced stripper fingers having beveled ends adapted to engage the roll surface, means for pivotally mounting said fingers, means for yieldingly urging said fingers into engagement with said roll surface, and fixedly mounted guide fingers constituting continuations of said pivotally mounted strippers.

'7. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for transversely severing a web of paper at"longitudinally spaced intervals to divide the web into sheets, means for folding said sheets including a pair of gripping jaws and means for tucking the sheets into the bite of said jaws, said jaws comprising upper and lower members, meanspivotally connecting said jaw members, and coil spring means disposed concentric with the axis of the pivotal connection; between the jaw members for normally closing the same.

8. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of means for transversely severing relatively independent webs of paper at longitudinally spaced intervals to divide said webs into sheets, means for interfolding the sheets of the respective webs including a pair of jaws and a-tucker for tucking the sheets into the grip of the jaws, means for propelling the jaws downwardly and outwardly, means cooperating with said jaws for withdrawing the sheets from the jaws and stacking the interfolded sheets, said means comprising. a pair of oppositely disposed fingers having retaining hooks at their upper ends, said jaws folded sheet portions beneath the hook of one of said fingers and means for oscillating said fingers in unison to produce a weaving movement in the stack of sheets whereby to produce evenness in the stack, and means for temporarily locking one of said fingers in predetermined position and at predetermined intervals for efiectlng upsetting of a folded sheet delivered to such fingers, thereby to form visible marks dividing the stack into sections containing predetermined numbers of interfoided sheets.

- 9. In an interfolding machine of the class described, means for transversely severing a pair of paper webs at longitudinally spaced points to divide such webs into sheets, 'means for interfolding the sheets of the respective webs including being adapted to feed the" predetermined paths of travel, means for receiving the interfolded sheets from the jaws and stacking the same, said means including a finger having a hook at its upper end, means for pivotally mounting said finger intermediate its ends, means for oscillating said finger about its pivot including an arm connected to said finger, a cam device and means connecting the cam device and said arm including a yieldable element for transmitting movement from said cam device to said arm, and means for temporarily. locking said finger in predetermined position at predetermined intervals for effecting upsetting of the interfolded sheet delivered thereto by said jaw, said yieldable means serving to permit continued normal movement of the cam means while said finger is locked in said predetermined position.

10. In an interfolding machine of the class described, means for transversely severing a pair of I paper webs at longitudinally spaced points to divide such webs into sheets, means for interfolding the sheets of the respective webs including jaws adapted to propel the folded sheets through predetermined paths of travel, means for receiving the interfolded sheets from the jaws and stacking the same, said means including a finger having a hook at its upper end, means for pivotaliy mounting said finger intermediate its ends, means for oscillating said finger about its pivot including an arm connected to said finger, a cam device and means connecting the cam device and said arm including a yieldable element for transmitting movement from said cam device to said arm, and adjustable means for temporarily locking said finger in predetermined position at predetermined intervals for effecting upsetting of the interfolded sheet delivered thereto by said jaw, said yieldable means serving to permit continued normal movement'of the cam means while said finger is locked in said predetermined position.

11. In an interfolding machine of the class described; the combination or means for transversely severing a pair of paper webs at longitudinally spaced intervals to divide said webs into sheets, means for interfolding said sheets including a pair of jaws and a tucker cooperating therewith, means for receiving the interfolded sheets from said interfolding means comprising oppositely disposed fingers, means for pivotally mounting said fingers, means for rocking said fingers in unison on their pivots to thereby weave the interfolded sheets back and forth so as to produce evenness in the stack of sheets between the fingers, means for temporarily locking one of the fingers in predetermined position at predetermined intervals for eifecting marking of one of the interfolded sheets to thereby form visible means for dividing the stack into bundles containing a predetermined number of sheets, said locking means including a latch member, positioning means engaged by said latch member for normally maintaining the latter in inoperative position, said positioning means having means for causing said latch to move to operative position, and means for actuating said positioning means each time said interfolding means delivers a sheet to the stacking means.

12. In an interfolding machine of the class described, the combination of means for transversely severing a pair of paper webs at longitudinally spaced intervals to divide the webs into sheets, means for interfolding the sheets of the respective webs, a stacking mechanism for receiving the interfolded sheets from the interfolding means,

a chute for receiving the stack from said stackingmeans, a conveyor for supporting the stack of sheets .in said chute, means for advancing said conveyor step by step, and adjustable means for regulating the extent of movementimparted to said conveyor at each step, whereby the position of the top'of the stacked'sheets relative to the stacking mechanism is maintainable substantially constant. I

13. In an interfolding machine of the class described, the combination of means for transversely severing a pair of paper webs at longitudinally spaced intervals to divide the webs into sheets, means for interfolding the sheets of the respective webs, a stacking mechanism for receiving the interfolded sheets from the interfolding means, a chute for receiving the stack. from said stacking means, conveyor means for supporting the stack of interfolded sheets in said chute, means for advancing said conveyor step by step including a ball clutch device including a laterally extending arm, means for rocking said arm to actuate said conveyor through said clutch, said means including a cam device and a connecting rod for transmitting movement from said cam device to said arm, and an adjustable connectionv between said connecting rod and arm whereby the extent of movement imparted to said arm and to said conveyor may be adjusted.

14. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for transversely severing a web of paper at longitudinally spaced intervals, said means including a roll having a longitudinally unbroken, smooth surface, means for folding the severed sheets, and means for stripping the sheets from said roll and guiding the sheets to said folding means, said stripping means comprising a member provided with a bevel edge adapted to engage the roll surface, means for mounting said stripper member so as to permit said bevel edge to follow the surface of said roll,

and means for yieldably urging said stripper member. into engagement with the roll surface. JAMES J. DELOYE. 

